8.1 Creating and Formatting a Chart
Steps in Excel
- Select the data including headers (A1:D7) › Insert › Charts › pick a type, or Insert › Charts › Recommended Charts. Shortcuts: Alt + F1 (chart on the same sheet), F11 (chart on a new chart sheet).
- Three buttons appear beside a selected chart: + Chart Elements (title, axes, data labels, legend, gridlines, trendline), brush Chart Styles (style and colour), funnel Chart Filters (hide series/categories).
- Chart Design tab: Add Chart Element, Quick Layout, Switch Row/Column, Select Data, Change Chart Type, Move Chart.
- Format tab or Ctrl + 1 on any element opens the Format pane (fill, border, axis bounds, number format, gap width).
- Save a favourite look: right-click the chart › Save as Template…
Formatting checklist: a title that states the message ("Pune sales peak in Nov (Diwali)"), axis number format in ₹ or lakh, gridlines light or removed, data labels only where useful, legend only if more than one series, consistent colours (e.g. Blinkit green, Amazon Now orange).
Ravindra Bagale's Tip
Many students leave the default chart as it is – "Chart Title", a 3D effect, thick gridlines. Write the message in the title, avoid 3D (it distorts the numbers), and keep only the elements you need. Ask one question: "What should the manager understand in 5 seconds?"
Ravindra Bagale's Tip – मराठी
बरेच students default chart तसाच ठेवतात – "Chart Title", 3D effect, जाड gridlines. Title मध्ये संदेश लिहा, 3D टाळा (आकडे चुकीचे दिसतात), आणि फक्त गरजेचे elements ठेवा. एक प्रश्न विचारा: "5 सेकंदात manager ला काय समजलं पाहिजे?"
Ravindra Bagale's Tip – हिंदी
बहुत से students default chart वैसा ही छोड़ देते हैं – "Chart Title", 3D effect, मोटी gridlines. Title में संदेश लिखो, 3D से बचो (आँकड़े गलत दिखते हैं), और सिर्फ़ ज़रूरी elements रखो. एक सवाल पूछो: "5 सेकंड में manager को क्या समझ आना चाहिए?"
Practice task
Create a clustered column chart of Pune, Nashik and Nagpur sales by month. Give it a message title, lakh number format on the axis and remove the gridlines.